All day long I am constantly sending messages … without using my cell phone. There is never a moment I am not sending a message. Even when I am silent … much is being said. Within 5 seconds of seeing me, someone has formed a......

An amazing video made by IKEA on the importance of family conversations. A must watch and motivation to make better use of our Christmas family gatherings. Please activate English subtitles before watching. ...

Whether you are single, married, a new mom or have lots of years under your belt, the season of Christmas can cause a lot of anxiety. The push and pull of the world around us and our own expectations to do things just right can send us spinning....

Whether you are a new mom or have lots of years under your belt, the season of Christmas can cause a lot of anxiety. The push and pull of the world around us and our own expectations to do things just right can send us spinning....

Every year a particular date is set aside to honor dads. Take the opportunity to really love him up! Be his best cheerleader and create memorable moments that fill him with love. Keep it simple, special and easy for you. Here are some ideas to help......

A small disclaimer before I get started: I am not a mother, I have no daughters. I am a single professional in my late 20s, successful at my job and having a great time exploring cultures and countries. Now you might be wondering: why on......

“Dialogue is essential for experiencing, expressing and fostering love in marriage and family life. Yet it can only be the fruit of a long and demanding apprenticeship. Men and women, young people and adults, communicate differently. They speak different languages and they act in different......

The process of dating should help you find the soul mate with which you can spend the rest of your life. You will probably not marry the first person you date. You do want to date and get to know the other person fairly well.......

The purpose of dating is to find Mr. Right – the one man you can spend the rest of your life with in marriage. What kind of guy would Mr. Right be? He would be someone who chooses you, who is willing to wait for......

Years ago I read something that really struck a chord with me. An author said that the deepest longing of a woman is to be cherished. Did that ever resound within the depths of my being! How much we girls long to be noticed, cared for,......

"How do you say no with words? Saying no often requires more than a one-word answer. It's important to be psychologically prepared for the "lines" that someone may use to pressure you to have sex. Remember, a line demands a comeback that can put an end to the pressure once and for all and really communicate your strong "No"....

I am pleased to offer you audio talks of presentations I have made. I would like to share them with you in the hope that they provide you affirmation, direction and ideas on topics you hold close to your heart. Enjoy and please share with......

From a young adult woman: I never partied in high school. It wasn’t my thing. But after graduation I felt I missed out, so to fill that void I seemed to go out more. Things I learned: Almost everybody is drinking. So much of what......

At first, nothing is as appreciated as the helper who passes you baby #2. I needed help to lift that second baby (so the first would not roll off the pillow!). A helper can assist with making minor adjustments that make all the difference to your comfort, ensuring a good latch, adding back support, and much encouragement ....

Once you have a couple of children and a home of your own, you can often feel that you are up to your eyeballs in work – dishes, dirty laundry, toys scattered everywhere, bills to be paid, toilets to be cleaned. You feel you are......

What a great gift children are to a marriage. How much joy they can bring to our lives. People often think if they had a boy and a girl, they’d be the million dollar family. Well I must be extremely wealthy because I have ten......

When people hear that I have six kids, the reaction is usually entertaining. Sure there are some days when I wonder what I’ve got myself into, worry about the world they’ll inherit and consider the environmental footprint of a family like mine. But most of the time I just celebrate how awesome it is to have six kids. ...

A woman said to me recently that my five children were very well behaved. It’s one of the best things I can hear so I thanked her. Then she asked me “how do you do it with so many?”
I told her that I don’t think I’d be a very good parent of one child or two....

A few years ago a friend was attending the Earth Day celebrations in her community with her five children in tow. She must have been quite the sight as she pushed her double stroller along with her three older children hanging on. She stopped at the over-population booth, which provided attendees with an array of literature enlightening them about the dangers of reproducing....

Allow me to gush: I love being a part of a large family! Eight kids, all singletons –thank you very much! I have friends who have more than eight, and some who are close to the number. For now, we (my husband & I) are at “eight”. God willing, we will be blessed with more....

Most people get excited for couples expecting their first child, and rightly so. There are still looks of pleasant surprise and congratulations with the second and the third. The fourth pregnancy can bring about moments of silence for some, looks of genuine surprise from others. It gets pretty interesting from the fifth onwards....

I was pregnant for the first time, and feeling a bit anxious, so I asked my brother whose wife had a baby the previous year, "How much does it cost to have a baby on a monthly basis?" David said, "If you can afford a coffee a day, you can afford to have a baby."...

When mom and dad welcome children into their lives and focus on creating a cheerful and loving home, they can achieve so much for their children: BEING LOVED: Rather than being loved by just mom and dad, children have the added love of each of......

Many women desire an outlet that will expand their horizons, develop their talents and solidify their identity as individuals. Whether we feel swamped with small children, busy juggling a job and family or a bit lost once the kids are all in school, there are......

Being a mom is a valuable, important and challenging role. Even if we have come from a large family, there is quite a difference when we actually become the mom who has to be in charge 24/7. In today’s society many moms are at home......

By Nell Minow Nell lives in Virginia with her husband and two children, Ben and Rachel. This article was published as a special to the Tribune on July 26, 2005 and is used with permission, all rights reserved. Copyright 2005 Nell Minow. Charlie Bucket is......

Most of us go into motherhood with little or no experience. The arrival of children is met with great joy. However it also comes with a steep learning curve. Even if you were part of a large family yourself, learning the ropes of motherhood can......

Parents are the primary educators of their children in the faith. Sometimes it is possible to gather like-minded families together to share in deepening the faith of those who attend. A family catechism program is one such initiative to support the parental responsibility....

For whatever reason, you may consider starting a club for your son or daughter. There are many benefits. You will get to know their friends. You will help them build friendships with like minded children. You will both have fun, but also learn a lot.......

The allure of the letters page is undeniable; it's the one place where the public can have their voices heard. But considering that hundreds of readers are competing for this space, how can you make sure your submission stands out? Here's 15 tips from our letters editor to help you get published....

Need ways to find relief and support as a busy mom, especially when relatives are inaccessible? Here is a great initiative to ensure affordable and convenient babysitting. A fantastic idea worth implementing....

Surrounded by chaos? Don’t know where to begin? Feel like you never accomplish anything? Well Mom, time to get a handle on your life! Whether you like it or not, the smooth operations of your home depend to a large degree on YOU. Your attitude and......

Moms certainly have to be master jugglers. It’s one thing to be responsible for a marriage and a home; it’s quite another to raise a family, tend to a marriage and carry out the responsibilities of our work. Every age and stage of family life......

Some time ago my oldest daughter (mid-twenties) spoke to young adults she worked with, asking about their family traditions during a particular time of year. She was quite surprised that few had any. Their youth was characterized by programs and individual activities, with few family......

Endless fretting about finances, however, can rob us of peace of mind and spirit. There are many things of value that do not cost much – or anything at all. We just need to remember where to find them....

We often hear it stated that the parents are the primary educators of their children. What does this mean to you? Why? How? In what capacity? You and your spouse are the most important people in your children’s lives. You more than anyone else will......

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term team players needed for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, ...

A woman, renewing her drivers license at the county clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
“What I mean is”, explained the recorder, “do you have a job or are you just a ... ?”...

When we start off having kids, almost all the antics and craziness makes us want to cry. Everything seems so hard and overwhelming. As time goes on though, we gain experience and have a different take on situations. ...

Daily life is full of choices. We often don't have much time to think before we act. How we respond mirrors our values, criteria and priorities in life. Really think through what's most important to you and clarify your priorities. You cannot do everything. ...

TIDBITS FOR MOMS:
1. Sleep is so important. If you get enough sleep you will enjoy your own company as will your family and friends. You will also have the energy you need to accomplish the day’s work ahead;...

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" ...

There are two kinds of courage or fortitude – the kind that faces danger or risk with a sporting spirit of firmness and the other kind which bears that which must be borne without complaint. It is a mental toughness which permeates the outlook and habits of the character of the individual....

One of my older lady friends once said to me “You know, our Life is like a coin, you get to spend it anyway you want, but you get to spend it only once."
How true that is! All people should take this to heart, but especially we who are moms....

Motherhood is not on the top ten list of “Great Jobs for the Modern Woman!” these days. How can it be if one is expected either to be able to do everything and anything at all (a.k.a. the Superwoman), or to have no personal opinion, idea, thought, interest, personality or identity (a.k.a. the invisible one)?...

Few mothers and fathers would disagree that parenting in today’s society is harder than it was in their parents’ day. Society has changed and outside influences upon children are stronger than when they were children. Families are smaller nowadays; both parents work and often cannot spend as much time with their children as they would like;...

The drama of our lives is lived out in the gap between what we are and what we should be. Which raises the question - what should we be? There are a lot of answers out there to that question. Every serious philosopher has tried to give an answer to that question....

MAKE-UP By Hilda Jerina, Image Consultant. What’s the first thing people see when they look at you? Your face and hair. The next time you walk by a mirror, take a minute and look at yourself. Take a real good look. Don’t worry, the mirror won’t......

Our clothes, speak volumes about us. Complete strangers may be able to surmise our gender, age, ethnicity, economic status, education, vocation, personality, and even character based upon what we wear. Employers, teachers, parents, and peers will all take notice of our attire. First impressions count....

Are you harnessing the power of a polished image, whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or are far removed from that world? Are you taking the time to make sure your outside accurately reflects the quality of your inside? Or, like so many women, are you taking an expensive education or in-demand ability and putting it in a discount wrapper?...

profession uses various elements of beauty to sell every product from haute couture to breakfast cereals. That’s because marketers know that we are all innately drawn to beauty; so they use beautiful people and props to draw us toward their products. ...

Do you find it hard to stay on top of fashion, never mind get out to buy clothes for yourself? Do you let your appearance slide and think “who cares” I’m at home? Yet as a woman and especially a mom, it is important to......

I was trying to be that superhuman Wonderwoman, that all-powerful mother-wife-teacher-daughter-sister-volunteer-coach. I was organized. I had goals. Spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally, financially, everything was rolling according to my plans....

CARROTS, EGGS & COFFEE Author Unknown A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee … You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again. A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things......

Sometimes in life we go through moments where we feel we are going down the drain turbo-boost. Lack of sleep, financial worries, problems in relationships, a baby who never seems to sleep or other problems seem to unplug all our energies and send us spiraling......

We know we should watch what we eat, exercise daily and lose the unwanted pounds, but it's so hard for many of us. In particular, pregnancy, stress, death of a loved one cause us to eat more than we normally would. ...

After my first baby was born, I felt really cooped up in my apartment. A friend of mine invited me to a post-natal fitness class at the local community centre. I took my baby with me and worked out for an hour. Boy was I......

Do you lack energy and feel sluggish? Do you have problems sleeping? Do you have low tolerance for your kids? Well, the solution is EXERCISE! Exercise? Ya, right! Between the family, the house and the daily routine, who has the time or the energy......